The St. Petersburg Innovation District and its partners in The Continuum, a consortium that recently received $14 million in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) seed funding, are now accepting applications for their first startup accelerator. Braid Theory, a venture advisory firm, will host the virtual, 12-week Ocean Enterprise Accelerator. Ocean data technology startups nationwide can apply to the free program through April 3. For more information, visit the website here.
The Don Cesar will reopen in March after about five months of storm repairs and upgrades, according to WFTS, which cited an email the hotel sent Thursday. Spring break runs from roughly mid-March through early April, and coastal businesses and communities hope to capitalize on a much-needed influx of revenue. The Don Cesar’s online booking platform is live and lists availability starting April 1.
St. Petersburg’s five-year stormwater project bill now tops $1.5 billion, and officials will consider another utility rate increase in fiscal year 2026. City Administrator Rob Gerdes said Thursday that residents could also vote on a property tax hike through a public referendum. He told city council members that the administration is “still working through that” and “not prepared to speak about that publicly at this point.”
Race promoters Green Savoree Racing will donate leftover food from the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg’s hospitality area to a local nonprofit rather than letting it go to waste. St. Pete-based Positive Impact has a refrigerated box truck parked outside he hospitality area. The organization will receive the unused food after the race Sunday and distribute it to families in need throughout the following week.
Elizabeth “Liz” Abernethy, St. Petersburg’s planning and development director, has announced her impending retirement. According to emails obtained by the Catalyst, her last day on the job is April 4. Abernethy began her career with the city in September 2014 and led the permitting, zoning, building and historic preservation departments. Her efforts garnered statewide acclaim in 2024.
About 75 local middle school students will experience interactive STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities at the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub and Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg today. Kids from John Hopkins, Thurgood Marshall and Fundamental Middle Schools will tour Saildrone’s Ocean Mapping Headquarters and U.S. Coast Guard ship at the Hub. Mayor Ken Welch will join the group before they head to the Grand Prix and receive a behind-the-scenes look at how STEM powers the world of motorsports.
National fabric and craft supply retailer Joann will close all its stores, including those in St. Petersburg and Dunedin, after restructuring plans faltered amid bankruptcy proceedings. According to its website, the company awaits court approval to begin or continue “going-out-of-business sales at all locations immediately.” Joann operated about 800 stores with 19,000 employees when it filed for bankruptcy in January.
In the USA Today 2025 Readers Poll, the Dali Museum is No. 7 on the list of the "10 Best Art Museums in the U.S.," calling the St. Petersburg destination "a perfect testament to Dalí's genius." St. Petersburg was voted No. 5 for Best City for Street Art, and the Warehouse Arts District landed at No. 3 for Best Arts District in the country.
Steven Peterman, founder of Pete’s Bagels, has officially opened a new concept, Seymour’s, in the historic Snell Arcade at 407 Central Ave. The downtown café offers breakfast bowls, quiches, tuna and chicken salad, artisanal desserts and serves Look Alive Coffee. Seymour’s is open from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) has launched The Grouper, an on-demand shuttle service that transports travelers from St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport to Clearwater Beach. The Grouper, named after the iconic fish species found in the Gulf, can accommodate up to nine passengers, their luggage and wheelchairs. Pricing begins at just $8 for one person and increases to $30 for groups of five to eight passengers. For more information, visit the website here.
Nominations for the 41st Annual St. Petersburg Senior Hall of Fame are now open, celebrating senior volunteers aged 62 and older who have made significant contributions to the community. Submissions are accepted online at this link until March 7, and inductees will be honored at a ceremony on April 16 at the Mahaffey Theater.
Mayor Ken Welch will host a flag-raising ceremony Thursday outside of City Hall to kick off the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Race promoters, IndyCar president Jay Frye, local racer Nikita Johnson and 2024 Grand Prix winner Pato O’Ward will join city officials at the public event. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m., and the Grand Prix runs from Friday through Sunday.
